Mark That Card: Shorthorn Heifer Results

I placed the Shorthorn heifers 3-4-1-2. I think there’s a high-quality pair of females that need to sort up, who both bring forth a maternal, brood-cow look needed for longevity. Subtle differences sort the pair, and I like the added look and freshness in the red and white heifer to win. The feminine headed, more striking female is just fresher in her breeding condition. Plus, I like the fact that she’s more correct in her hip and hind leg assembly which completes her high-quality look from the side. Now I wouldn’t argue switching the pair in favor of the dark red female, she may be the easiest to maintain as a brood cow being the easiest fleshing, broodiest appearing heifer, who is the other attractive fronted female in class. However, I mark her a close second as she is carrying a bit more condition around her tail head, and I’m not surprised that the heifer with extra set to her hock drops her pins and gets a bit under herself when on the lead.

Now I’ve been tough on a great cow prospect, and honestly, I think there’s a big division in quality in the middle pair. 4 is the only female of the remaining three that brings forth the body mass and functional build needed to succeed at the production level, yet still maintains a maternal, high quality look. The dirty roan heifer may read a bit leveler in her hip, but she’s a distant third. Not only does she get out massed by an impressive duo, but the cresty-necked, staler appearing heifer is upright in her shoulder and straight in her hock, so I’m not surprised that she comes up short in her step.

So I left her in a bottom pair of females who both have their functional flaws. For me, I just think her softer, easier fleshing look of 1 suggests that she will require fewer inputs for maintenance. Now granted, 2 is quite a bit more feminine in her head and neck shape, and she’s more correct in how her neck ties in at the top of her shoulder. However, she’s not enough of a structural improvement to justify her off-balanced, hard doing look. The deep chested, tight pasterned heifer is still uncoordinated in her hock and is the tightest in her rib and flank.

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